Is there an easy way to peel hazelnuts? I usually toast them in a hot oven for about 10 minutes, then rub them together in a tea towel, but I often find that only some of the skins come off and it seems like a very labor-intensive process. Anybody have a better way?

drbabs, thanks, but it's not all me. . .It was Julia's brainchild, and I'm just the messenger. I was hesitant to try this because I was worried that the hazelnuts would have a boiled flavor, but they really don't cook at all.

I forgot to mention that the ice water should be poured through a strainer so that the skins don't clog your drain.

I have learned so much from Julia Child cookbooks and TV shows: Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to 2 cups boiling water. Add hazelnuts and boil for about 3 minutes. Slip a test nut into a bowl of ice water. If the skin doesn’t come off easily, boil the nuts a little longer. When a test skin rubs right off, add the rest of the nuts to the ice water and peel. Spread the nuts on kitchen or paper towels, then toast them in the oven.

Besides making hazelnuts easier to peel, it also makes your kitchen towels easier to launder.